levee C2 Topic:Register & Style US /ˈlɛvi/ UK /ˈlɛvi/ See IPA manual Homophones levy /ˈlɛvi/ Freq #39450 Meanings 1 noun The steep bank of a river. The purchaser of a riparious estate under the words "front to the levee," does not acquire the alluvion or batture, when there is land susceptible of separate ownership beyond the levee. 2 verb To keep within a channel by means of levees. To levee a river. 3 noun The act of rising; getting up, especially in the morning after rest. C. 1763, Thomas Gray, letter to Mr. Nichols And look before you were up in the morning, though you were a punctual courtier at the sun's levee. 4 noun A formal reception, especially one given by royalty or other leaders. I must take my leave, for the Cardinal holds a levee to-day, and let those fail in attendance who want nothing. Thesaurus Word family Derived forms palaeoleveepaleolevee Etymology From French levé variant of the noun lever (“the act of getting up in the morning”). Topics Register & Style External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # levee **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** noun, verb **IPA (US):** /ˈlɛvi/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈlɛvi/ **Frequency rank:** 39450 ## Meanings 1. The steep bank of a river. 2. To keep within a channel by means of levees. 3. The act of rising; getting up, especially in the morning after rest. 4. A formal reception, especially one given by royalty or other leaders. ## Examples - The purchaser of a riparious estate under the words "front to the levee," does not acquire the alluvion or batture, when there is land susceptible of separate ownership beyond the levee. - To levee a river. - C. 1763, Thomas Gray, letter to Mr. Nichols And look before you were up in the morning, though you were a punctual courtier at the sun's levee. - I must take my leave, for the Cardinal holds a levee to-day, and let those fail in attendance who want nothing. ## Derived Forms - palaeolevee - paleolevee ## Etymology From French levé variant of the noun lever (“the act of getting up in the morning”). ## Topics - Register & Style markdown